Lowndes sets out Supercars driving future

Supercars legend Craig Lowndes is set to retire as a full-time driver at the end of next year.

According to News Corp Australia, the 43-year-old will contest only endurance races from 2020.

Lowndes next weekend will become the first driver to reach 650 race starts during the Winton SuperSprint in Victoria and he believes 700 is ultimately possible.

"I didn't think I would have had a career as long as this," said Lowndes, whose contract with Triple Eight Race Engineering expires in 2019.

"And I didn't ever think I would achieve a number like that. But hopefully, I get this year and next year (as a full-time driver) and then we might get to 700."

Debuting in 1996, aged 22, Lowndes is likely to rack up his 700th race start in 2020 at Bathurst.

"There will be another 31 starts next year," Lowndes said.

"So we will go close to achieving that milestone. Hopefully, it becomes a reality because, once I finish the main game side of it, I will go into the enduros and that will still give me a chance to accumulate.